There has to come a tipping point when sports organizations — or, really, any entity in which men hold power over women — recognize the need for safeguards to protect women from abuse and exploitation. Perhaps just as important is that women’s and girls’ voices be heard when they complain, and that their allegations are thoroughly investigated instead of consistently giving the abusers the benefit of the doubt.
Former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates on Monday released the results of her independent investigation into abuses within the National Women’s Soccer League and the U.S. Soccer Federation. The findings are shocking, for sure. But they’re also frustrating for their consistency with investigations into other entities where abuses against women were allowed to go uncorrected despite persistent complaints.
The U.S. military, Silicon Valley, Hollywood, professional football and women’s gymnastics each had their own scandals exposed only when the victims finally recognized that nothing would change unless they mustered the courage to go public and speak out. And, just as occurred in soccer, the pioneers who tried to force change found themselves ignored or, worse, shunned and punished for complaining.
